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This era’s public health threat is digital (Opinion)
We addressed car safety through design standards, such as airbags. Policymakers could treat infinite scroll, autoplay, streaks, algorithmic recommendations as design choices potentially subject to similar public policies.
Was Delay Of Universal Health Plan Report Unlawful? Does It Matter?
A Republican state representative has been on a crusade alleging lawmakers allowed a major report to be delayed without statutory authority. He may have a point, but Democrats say he’s harping on a technicality.
Senator Baldwin is urging federal officials to dismantle a newly introduced 25 percent matching funds requirement that targets regional Dairy Business Innovation Initiative centers.
A major policy shift by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is creating friction for local agriculture, prompting quick action from lawmakers.
Hidden fees cost Michigan patients millions. Lawmakers push reforms
‘Facility fees’ are buried deep in bills and often include little explanation. Health officials say they need the money to stay afloat, but won’t divulge much about the charges. One expert calls them a ‘black box.’
Michigan can get money out of politics ― here’s how
Michigan lawmakers are pushing to curb corporate election spending by limiting the power of artificial entities.
Makers — with artist studio spaces, gallery — to soft open in Lancaster city this weekend
There will soon be a new creative hub in Lancaster city, complete with artist studios and works on display.
Bipartisan lawmakers criticize Trump's diesel deal with Russia
On Monday, the president defended the deal, writing on Truth Social that he "made the right choice for the American People"
Bipartisan lawmakers criticize Trump's diesel deal with Russia
On Monday, the president defended the deal, writing on Truth Social that he "made the right choice for the American People"
When it comes to health care access, more isn't always better
Hospitals and policymakers routinely face a difficult question when investing in specialized emergency services: Will adding another facility improve care, or would those resources do more good somewhere ...
Europe's Top Performers: key statistics from the weekend
Along with all of the results from UEFA's 'Top 5' leagues, Playmaker is here to provide you with a rundown of the top performers.From the slickest passers enroute to the most tenacious tacklers via th...
New PBS docuseries asks how Minnesotans pursue happiness
MINNEAPOLIS — Happiness comes in many forms. But Minnesota has as much of it as anybody, argue the makers of a new docuseries “Pursuit of Happiness.” The three-episode limited series,
The Top Performers in the EFL
It has been another action-packed Saturday across 'The 72' and Playmaker is here to run you through some of the outstanding performers and statistics from the EFL.From the slickest passers enroute to ...
Chinese carmakers increasingly rely on overseas markets as September exports surge
A Chinese industry association says passenger car exports surged 64% in September compared to the same month last year. Chinese automakers are increasingly relying on exports to drive growth amid
China home car sales downturn continues, exports retain momentum
BEIJING, Oct 12 (Reuters) - China's domestic car sales extended their decline for a 12th successive month, while exports remained a key growth driver as automakers looked overseas to cushion
The Black British Business Awards 2026: Meet the winning leaders, innovators and changemakers shaping UK industry
Celebrating the brilliance, visibility and impact of Black British talent, this year's winners of The Black British Business Awards 2026 were chosen from Senior Leaders and Rising Stars spanning STEM, Fashion, Beauty & Consumer, Arts & Media, Entrepreneurs, Financial Services, Professional Services and Retail & Hospitality, underlining what can be achieved when organisations champion and amplify Black talent and allow it to #SHINE.
Newsmakers: Colliers promotes Reilly
This week’s Newsmakers includes a Colliers promotion, a new CMC neurosurgeon, four hires at LMR and new trustees at Franklin Pierce University.
Trump’s US-Russia diesel deal draws bipartisan criticism
President Donald Trump’s diesel deal with Russian leader Vladimir Putin is facing bipartisan blowback in the US as lawmakers warn that the Trump administration is defying a federal law meant to crackdown on Russia after the invasion of Ukraine.
Filmmakers made the AI sci-fi series 'The Arc' with $38k in credits
The filmmakers behind the AI-generated TV series called "The Arc" share what went into making it, including $38,000 in AI credits.
HTA invites local businesses and community organizations to learn how to reach Hawaiʻi’s visitors
Hawaiʻi farmers, makers, small-business owners, cultural practitioners and nonprofits interested in reaching visitors are invited to register for the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority’s 2026 Foundational Technical Assistance workshops.
CHOICE Arrangements: A Path to Health Coverage for Small Business Employees - Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council
An emerging alternative is gaining momentum – and the history of HSAs shows why policymakers should help it grow. By Karen Kerrigan – For most small business owners, the health insurance story is painfully the same: premiums keep climbing, choices can be limited, and providing quality coverage for employees becomes more difficult every year. According […]
CHOICE Arrangements: A Path to Health Coverage for Small Business Employees - Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council
An emerging alternative is gaining momentum – and the history of HSAs shows why policymakers should help it grow. By Karen Kerrigan – For most small business owners, the health insurance story is painfully the same: premiums keep climbing, choices can be limited, and providing quality coverage for employees becomes more difficult every year. According […]
These lawmakers want to head off a potential post-election crisis
A bipartisan effort is underway in Congress to avert a constitutional crisis, where Republicans don't seat Democrats, if they win the chamber.
Mission Lotería bets on brick-and-mortar as Latino makers face high costs
Despite both a rise in costs and fears around immigration crackdowns, some Latinos are committing to championing other Latino entrepreneurs by offering access to a storefront.
City of Laurel Encourages Local Businesses to Participate in 2026 Small Business Credit Survey
(LAUREL, MD) The City of Laurel’s Department of Economic & Community Development is encouraging local business owners and key financial decision makers to participate in the Federal Reserve&
Some G.O.P. Lawmakers Pan Hegseth’s Plan to Stream Execution of Fort Hood Shooter
Some G.O.P. members of Congress said that broadcasting the execution of the Fort Hood shooter was inappropriate, though others gleefully applauded it.
Gears of War: E-Day sells 230K copies
Gears of War: E-Day has sold 230K copies since its advance-access launch on October 1 and full release on October 6. Steam accounts for 168K of those, with Xbox (console and PC) selling 62K. But there’s more to this story, as Xbox makes up the bulk of revenue. E-Day is the best-reviewed Gears game in nearly two decades (and the best one ever made, in my opinion). The Coalition has made a banger here (it’s currently in my top 10 of the year). Despite E-Day’s undeniable quality, this is a soft result. And it’s down to the business model, really. E-Day has made $37M so far, thanks to the Premium upgrade On Xbox, Game Pass is cannibalising much of the premium revenue. Our estimates show that 1.7M folks accessed E-Day via their subscription rather than a copy. But Xbox is having it both ways – or having it halfway, at least – via its Premium Edition Game Pass upgrade. Game Pass subscribers could pay $30 (or their local equivalent) for up to five days of early access starting October 1. Our estimates show that of the 1.7M who accessed E-Day through Game Pass, 722K paid for the upgrade. Between the review embargo lifting on October 1 and the full release, E-Day managed to shift another 250K early-access upgrades – no doubt helped by the campaign’s rave reviews. So despite selling far fewer copies on Steam, Xbox accounts for almost three-quarters of the revenue (roughly $26M of the $37M, versus about $11M on Steam). So “230K copies” undersells the paying audience. Including the 722K upgrades, nearly 950K people actually paid something for E-Day. The $30 upgrade is a halfstep from cannibalisation, but will Xbox go all the way? While E-Day is a sublime game, these are soft numbers for a flagship when Xbox badly needs revenue wins. E-Day sold 62K copies on Xbox against 722K Premium upgrades, so for every one copy sold on Xbox, nearly 12 Game Pass upgrades were sold. The $70 premium SKU is – functionally – dead on Xbox. Normally you can’t see what a Game Pass player would have paid, because the game’s just there in the subscription. But the $30 early-access upgrade estimate shows that 722K people demonstrated they’ll spend real money on this game. In a world without day-one Game Pass, many of these folks would have bought E-Day at $70. They paid $30 for five days early access to something they don’t own. Xbox is, in effect, charging its most valuable customers the least, based on a hangover from a tried-and-exhausted strategy from a previous administration. Those 722K willing-to-pay players generated about $21.7M via the upgrade. If three quarters of this group – mostly US and European audiences – bought E-Day outright, that’s nearly $40M. Of course, Game Pass does bring in meaningful recurring revenue, and E-Day is adding value for hundreds of thousands of subscribers. However, Game Pass is no longer growing, so Xbox is at a crossroads. Xbox is reportedly looking to do a Netflix and bolt on an ad-supported tier to pad it further. But that will just set a new floor, and leadership keeps telling us the priority now is revenue growth, which is subscriber-speak for ARPU. Xbox has already pulled Call of Duty from day-one Game Pass after day-one inclusion hammered its sales, with new CoD titles now arriving on the service around a year late. We know that some Microsoft executives believe the service devalues games outright, and rumours (which Microsoft has dismissed so far, to be fair) suggest that day-one releases could be taken off Game Pass. Want more free estimates and insights in your inbox twice a week? Subscribe below! Subscribe When a game this well-reviewed does this softly on its home platform, the model – not the game – gets brought into question. What else E-Day’s early adopters have played (including this month so far) Looking at E-Day‘s players on Xbox, most have played the franchise before (86% have played Gears 5, 76% Gears 4), and every game on the crossover list is either a shooter or a title from an Xbox-owned studio (though Game Pass is inflating those numbers, of course, more on that later): As for what else Xbox’s E-Day players have played this month, the top three are Fortnite (16%), Roblox (7%), and Call of Duty (6%). Another 5% played Minecraft Dungeons II, which is also on Game Pass and launched a couple of days before Gears‘ advance-access date. Many Game Pass players are happy to check out most big new additions. Want more free estimates and insights in your inbox twice a week? Subscribe below! Subscribe Over on Steam, the top crossover games are also mostly shooters (slightly more PC-coded ones), including Space Marine 2, which was itself heavily inspired by Gears: Looking at what E-Day‘s Steam players are into this month shows who they are – as subscriptions don’t skew the data. The top three are Wardogs (13%), Deadlock (12%), and CS2 (10%), so you’ve got the restless shooter crowd checking out the new hotness. A little further down are Helldivers 2 and Space Marine 2, your co-op PVE shooter players who’ll feel right at home in Horde mode. Game Pass is skewing the playtime distribution on Xbox Looking at the playtime distribution in our platform, E-Day players on Steam are – relatively speaking – playing for longer: 54% of E-Day players on Xbox have played for five hours or less (versus 32% on Steam) 19% of Xbox players played for over 15 hours (versus 33% on Steam) 14% of Xbox players played for over 20 hours (22% on Steam) The absolute number of people playing for over 15, 20, and 50 hours is, of course, bigger on Xbox, thanks to the sheer volume of folks who came in through Game Pass (upgraders included). None of that is cause for alarm. Game Pass is the reason Xbox playtime skews lower, as when a game is free to try, people try it and bounce without putting in even an hour (17% under an hour on Xbox versus 6% on Steam). Want more free estimates and insights in your inbox twice a week? Subscribe below! Subscribe The subscription brings in tourists alongside the committed, dragging down the average even when the game is excellent (but also perhaps winning over the uninitiated). It’s standard across every subscription-included title, on PS Plus too. Forza Horizon 6, for instance, had 11% of its Xbox players bounce under an hour, versus just 2% on Steam. So, Xbox’s crossroads So there we have it. Gears of War: E-Day is an incredible game whose revenues have been stifled by subscription inclusion and exclusivity. It’s the best-reviewed entry in the series in fifteen-odd years, but it still turned into one of the year’s softer flagship launches, not because players didn’t want it, but because Xbox’s own storefront gave its most willing buyers a reason not to pay. Which leaves Xbox at a crossroads. Will it keep making Gears games when the financial returns are this thin and the margins this low? And if it does, does the next one arrive off Game Pass at day one – the way CoD now does, or even on PlayStation? I think it should. Alright, back to E-Day for me! The last word Reply to this email – or reach out here – if you have any feedback for the newsletter – or want to request a game for us to cover. [Alinea Analytics boasts the most accurate PC and console estimates in the business. Game makers use our platform to understand their audience, keep an eye on the competition, monitor sales trends, and spot new opportunities. We equip game studios and financial institutions with accurate data and the confidence to make smarter, data-driven decisions. Want to talk about all things games market data? We’d love to chat!]
Oregon Universal Health Plan Group Hastens To Meet Deadline
A few weeks ago, it looked like the board tasked with giving lawmakers the template for government-run universal health care plan would get until December to finish its big report. It turns out it had to move faster.
U.K. Box Office Back to Full Health — But What Lessons Do We Learn?
Will the IMAX hype hold? Why does A24 deserve credit? Cinema programmers at three major theatrical players put their heads together and agree on the audience appetite for filmmakers with original stories.
Design open science to be equitable, policymakers urged
Independent report for European Commission calls for “infradiversity” across infrastructures
Nonprofit launches maternal health data tool
The Maternal Resiliency Index is designed to help policy makers.
Guest column: Bringing health care concerns directly to policymakers
Mountain Family Health Centers hosted a roundtable discussion Sept. 27 with attendees holding tremendous influence over our health care system. Those who joined the discussion were Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet...
Pentagon plan to livestream execution of Fort Hood shooter prompts fierce political backlash
The move has been branded as ‘disturbing’ and compared to the actions of terror groups by US lawmakers
Korean cosmetics stocks surge as K-pop entertainment shares fall
Cosmetics makers led gains on the Korea Exchange, while K-pop and content companies suffered the market's sharpest industry decline.
Memphis People in Business for Oct. 8, 2026
A look at promotions, hirings, movers and newsmakers in the Memphis area business scene
Skill game crackdown: Lawmakers try again, business group joins push for more time
Harrisburg, Pa. — The fight to keep skill games plugged in past next week isn't over yet.
Skill game crackdown: Lawmakers try again, business group joins push for more time
Harrisburg, Pa. — The fight to keep skill games plugged in past next week isn't over yet.
MBA Research Ranking: The Most Influential Business Schools
The Financial Times assesses MBA programs in academic research when it comes to reaching and influencing policy makers and practitioners.
Erie County lawmakers approve small business bill, pass resolution
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Erie County lawmakers on Thursday voted to approve the Small Business Utilization Act and passed a resolution that calls for reimbursement from New York State. County L…
U.S. Lawmakers Launch Sexual Abuse Probe of Youth Sports Giant AAU
Bipartisan leadership of a powerful House committee demanded answers from the Amateur Athletic Union after a ProPublica and Washington Post investigation found that the massive youth sports organization has failed to protect kids from sexual abuse.
Louisiana Activists Draw Links Between Petrochemical, Climate Harm to Maternal Health
Louisiana feminist activists came together on October 2 at the annual Black Birth Matters conference to demand that policy makers consider how toxic air pollution and other environmental damage negatively impact reproductive health.
Images: Science Square's latest jobs hub arrives on Westside
One of the world’s leading battery makers officially cut the ribbon this week on a $56-million, jobs-producing investment into research and development at the cusp of Georgia Tech.Spread across four stories where English Avenue meets Midtown, Duracell’s Global Innovation Center for Research and Development marks a key addition for Science Square, an 18-acre, mixed-use district expected to produce 500 homes, retail, and nearly 2 million square feet of lab and office space across multiple phases.
Atrium Health’s plan contested by state treasurer for legality
(The Center Square) – Nearly 750,000 teachers, state employees, retirees, lawmakers active and retired, and members of higher education on Tuesday learned Atrium Health’s Affordability Protection Program would help provide
Open science is compatible with research security, says Canada’s chief science advisor
Open science is “not incompatible” with research security and science leaders and policymakers should “demystify” the false dichotomy between the two, according to Mona Nemer, Canada’s chief science advisor. More than a decade ago, EU policymakers were promoting open science, open innovation and open collaboration across the world. It was a political movement that aimed to make scientific research, data, software, publications and methodologies transparent, accessible and reusable for everyone.But that rhetoric has changed over the past few years. After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 and Donald Trump came back to power in 2025, international partnerships have become more pragmatic. Countries are trying to implement protectionist policies and governments are increasingly worried about technology espionage. According to Nemer, science can remain open if the sector can come up with improved security protocols that would protect research data from undue manipulation by foreign actors. “If anybody can fiddle with the with the data, then [open science] is actually quite dangerous and quite useless,” she told Science|Business. Universities and research institutions are increasingly vulnerable to attempted espionage and other types of foreign interference. In September, the UK’s domestic counter-intelligence service MI5 issued a security warning against collaborations with the China General Technology Research Institute. And earlier this year, Germany’s Helmholtz Center for Information Security was criticised by federal research minister Dorothee Bär, who told a parliamentary hearing that “existing rules and systems” at the institute “were not suitable” for preventing leaks to China. According to Nemer, universities and research institutions should perhaps follow the example of the private sector, as companies have been able to safeguard their research while still publishing results. “I think that there is a level of research security hygiene that researchers and institutions need to just adopt,” she said. “You don't have to tell Sanofi or IBM how to safeguard their research, which they end up publishing anyway.”While certain areas of research will not be open for collaboration with certain partners, in other areas cooperation is necessary even with researchers based in adversarial countries. “I stress this because politics change,” she said. “Science and politics don't make for good fellows, and whether we like it or not, politics will influence certain things.”Researchers will play an important role in “protecting the integrity of science,” said Nemer. “I think that it's time that there's a commitment to a certain scientific compact, so that citizens don't think that science is actually an open door for espionage and for anti-nationalism.”New partnershipsNemer spoke with Science|Business on the margins of the Hamburg Science Summit on September 17, the day when Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called for increased cooperation with the EU, including in science and technology. Canada is looking to strengthen ties with partners in other corners of the world, after the Trump administration threatened to put tariffs on Canadian goods and services and even openly suggested Canada could become the 51st state. In parallel, the US government has indicated it wants to retreat from international science projects, including US collaboration with Europe’s CERN particle accelerator and other big science labs.Related articlesThe stats we need to better understand R&DCanada looks to deepen research and education links with the EUCan researchers trust that AI models won’t leak their ideas?Nemer said the US is still a science “powerhouse,” but Canada and Europe will have to work closely together on global challenges. “It’s important for both [sides], but I think it's also important for the rest of the world, because the cut in funding for development, in health, in regions like Africa and other places, have dramatic effects.” The Trump administration is also planning a review of the Nelson memo, a Biden-era document that mandated that results of federally funded research would be openly available. With that idea being called into question, Nemer said it could be “very disruptive” to scientific collaborations and could jeopardise research on climate change, the Arctic and global health. “When your collaborator suddenly tells you I'm not going to share the data with you as a researcher, if this happens, I think it's very worrisome,” she said. “I'm certainly hoping that a lot of the Canadian institutions, funders, researchers, have started looking at joining forces on databases and using more European research infrastructures,” Nemer added.
The Math Singularity Is Here, and Science May Be Next
OpenAI has released an extraordinary body of mathematical work produced by an unreleased frontier model: 722 manuscripts spanning 372 research families across fields including number theory, complexity theory, and mathematical physics. Each result required, on average, the equivalent of roughly three hours of ChatGPT Pro reasoning. A New Era of Discovery We may be witnessing the beginnings of a “math singularity”: a point at which machine-generated discovery accelerates beyond humanity’s ability to independently reproduce, verify, or fully absorb it. If frontier models can generate hundreds of meaningful results in the time it takes a human researcher to investigate one, the constraint will no longer be producing new mathematics. It will be our capacity to validate, interpret, and integrate it. This does not make mathematicians obsolete. It changes their role. They may increasingly serve as guides, critics, and meaning-makers. Increasingly, they will decide which questions matter, determining which results can be trusted, and explaining why they are important. Mathematical insight may become abundant, while human judgment becomes more valuable than ever. Mathematics May Be Only the Beginning Every scientific discipline could eventually experience a similar acceleration. AI systems could generate and test hypotheses, connect findings across specialized fields, and explore possibilities at a scale no human research community could match. In medicine, imagine models identifying overlooked disease mechanisms, designing drugs and clinical trials, personalizing treatments, or discovering cures in months rather than decades. In materials science, AI could help create better batteries and cleaner industrial processes. In climate science, it could accelerate advances in energy, forecasting, and carbon removal. In biology, it could uncover relationships hidden across enormous genomic and molecular datasets. The result would not simply be faster research. It could expand the frontier of what is scientifically possible. The New Bottleneck Scientific discovery, however, is not the same as scientific progress. A medical breakthrough must still survive laboratory testing, clinical trials, regulatory scrutiny, manufacturing constraints, and real-world deployment. As machine-generated ideas multiply, the bottleneck may shift from producing breakthroughs to validating them safely and translating them into practice. We may soon have more hypotheses than laboratories can test, more drugs than clinical trials can evaluate, and more mathematical results than experts can review. That imbalance will require better systems for automated verification, reproducible research, prioritization, peer review, and collaboration between AI and domain experts. The importance of OpenAI’s work is not merely the number of manuscripts produced. It offers a glimpse of a world in which intelligence can explore thousands of intellectual paths in parallel. If ideas cease to be scarce, humanity’s defining challenge will be deciding which are true, which matter, and how to turn them into progress. The math singularity is not the end of human inquiry. It is the beginning of a new kind—one in which machines expand the frontier of knowledge and humans decide where it should lead. Subscribe Share Leave a comment
Open Science and Equity: Does openness alone lead to fairness?
Open Science improves sharing and reuse of knowledge, increases transparency, and encourages public participation in the research process. While this approach has gained widespread support from researchers and policymakers, the new report, “Equity in Open Science: Case studies of Open Science infrastructures and Open Peer Review”, shows that openness alone does not automatically lead to […]
At Black business expo, officials urge owners to speak up
State and federal lawmakers called for more Black small business owners, who disproportionately face economic challenges, to meet with elected officials and ask for support.
Report: Iowa economy seeing ‘positive change’ this year
The Iowa Business Council (IBC) has released its third quarter Economic Outlook Survey (EOS) for 2026. That survey is showing encouraging signs for Iowa businesses, according to IBC officials. The Iowa Business Council (IBC) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization whose 22 members are the chief decision makers of the state’s largest employers. Since its establishment […]
Some furloughed Star Wars Zero Company developers are returning to work, studio says
Bit Reactor, the Maryland based company, behind this summer’s well-received tactical combat game Star Wars Zero Company says that “more” of its team is returning to work after being furloughed ahead of the game’s release. This is the studio’s first statement on the matter since Game File’s August report that “most” of the development team had been furloughed—technically kept as employees, but without pay or benefits—a few weeks prior to launch. Some of those furloughs ended this week. “This week, we started the process of returning more of our team back to work at Bit Reactor, an important step forward in our continued support for Zero Company, “ Bit Reactor CEO Greg Foertsch said in a statement. He continued: “Having to ask team members to step away after we navigated unexpected business developments outside of our control and so close to launch was an incredibly difficult decision, but one that was necessary to help us eventually bring as many people back as possible. “This team means a tremendous amount to me, and I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together. Thank you to our fans for the incredible response to the game and for supporting us along this journey. We look forward to sharing more updates regarding Bit Reactor and Zero Company soon.” Game File reported in August that Bit Reactor had retained a small team to work on updates for Zero Company. One person familiar with the situation told Game File that the returns announced today bring the studio’s pay-rolled headcount to more than half of what it had been ahead of the furloughs. That means a considerable number of people have been brought back, but that a fair number also remain without pay. While companies in the U.S. are often legally required to publicly disclose how many people they’ve laid off, furloughs can often be kept private, for a time. The United States Department of Labor requires companies to publicly report mass furloughs if they meet specific criteria, including any expectation that they will last more than six months. For those game makers who remain furloughed by Bit Reactor, it’s now been about two months. For more about Bit Reactor, the furloughs, the studio’s back-story and the ongoing lawsuit that brought this to light, read my August report. [ ‘Most’ of Star Wars Zero Company studio Bit Reactor was furloughed ahead of launch ](https://www.gamefile.news/p/star-wars-zero-company-bit-reactor-furloughs-lawsuit) Stephen Totilo · Sep 1 Last week was meant to be a moment of triumph for Bit Reactor, the Maryland-based game studio founded in 2021 with ambitions to create a great new tactical combat game. [ Read full story ](https://www.gamefile.news/p/star-wars-zero-company-bit-reactor-furloughs-lawsuit)
Lawmakers withdraw request to delay skill game crackdown
Harrisburg, Pa. — Four state lawmakers, including Sen. Gene Yaw, have withdrawn their request asking the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to delay enforcement against skill game machines until February.
Lawmakers withdraw request to delay skill game crackdown
Harrisburg, Pa. — Four state lawmakers, including Sen. Gene Yaw, have withdrawn their request asking the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to delay enforcement against skill game machines until February.
Senator Yaw leads push to stay skill games seizure into 2027
Harrisburg, Pa. — Skill game machines in bars, clubs, and shops across the state could stay safe from police seizure until February if four state lawmakers, primarily Sen. Gene Yaw,
At Black business expo, officials urge owners to ‘speak up’
Black small business owners are facing economic conditions similar to those they dealt with as a result of COVID-19. And to help, state and federal lawmakers are calling on more Black business owne…
Report: Iowa economy seeing ‘positive change’ this year
The Iowa Business Council (IBC) has released its third quarter Economic Outlook Survey (EOS) for 2026. That survey is showing encouraging signs for Iowa businesses, according to IBC officials. The Iowa Business Council (IBC) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization whose 22 members are the chief decision makers of the state’s largest employers. Since its establishment […]
Ways and Means Promotes Tax Law to Small Businesses in Tennessee
At a Tennessee hearing, House Ways and Means lawmakers touted the One Big Beautiful Bill’s tax benefits for small businesses. Read what the measure means.
Mikel Arteta pens new Arsenal contract until 2030
Arsenal have announced that manager Mikel Arteta has signed a new deal with the club until 2030.Arteta first joined the Gunners midway through the 2019/20 season after having served as Pep Guardiola'...
Pittsburgh Opens as Only Four-Point Favorites vs. UNC
Oddsmakers predict a narrow clash as the undefeated Pittsburgh Panthers host a struggling North Carolina Tar Heels squad.
AI doom has a precision problem
Until there is more clarity on basic questions, neither developers nor policymakers can credibly establish a quantitative AI risk assessment.
Geoffrey Hinton suggests an FDA-style approval system for AI
Geoffrey Hinton said AI companies should have to convince a regulator their models are safe before releasing them, much like drugmakers.
Business groups to lawmakers: NJ is losing out to other states
The marathon hearing ended with questions about whether the Legislature would act on recommendations or allow longstanding problems to continue.
DFL lawmakers voice concerns over healthcare mergers as new consolidations loom
A group of Minnesota lawmakers voiced concerns at the State Capitol on Tuesday that several recent healthcare company mergers could negatively impact Minnesota’s healthcare landscape.
Pixar exhibit brings movie magic to Frost Science
Buzz Lightyear may have doubts about humans and space travel, but when it comes to bringing Pixar characters to life, filmmakers take technology to infinity and beyond.
Is Mike McCarthy's snap-count analytics benching Steelers playmakers?
Former Pittsburgh Steelers players critique head coach Mike McCarthy for using strict snap-count analytics to bench top playmakers.
Dani Carvajal set to remain in Madrid
Dani Carvajal is still a free agent and could soon make a surprise decision, according to the Spanish press. The right-back is expected to stay in the capital, although not at the club where he made ...
Austin Simmons Headlines Missouri's Biggest Offensive Threats to Texas A&M
Austin Simmons leads a Missouri offense that has emerged as one of the SEC's biggest early surprises, but Texas A&M will have to account for three other playmakers as well.
Germany under pressure
From carmakers and manufacturers to farmers and logistics firms, businesses are grappling with weak demand, climate risks, and global uncertainty.
From ‘feel-good’ to urgent: NC lawmakers move to act on gas taxes
If the legislature suspends the state gas tax, it would save North Carolinians 41 cents per gallon.
Trump reverses course on publicly funded TV political ads
President Donald Trump announced Monday night that taxpayers will no longer pick up the tab for political TV advertisements promoting himself and administration policies. Facing a public backlash from lawmakers of both parties, Trump said in a post on his Truth Social site that he would in part use money raised by a super PAC, […]
2026 UHC Day campaign launch
The 2026 UHC Day campaign launch will give advocates, including civil society and young people, tools and messaging to advocate for universal health coverage and hold decision-makers to account for their global commitments.
Doctors, Insurers Sue Newsom over Health Insurance Premium Increases
In June, lawmakers passed a healthcare tax that could increase premiums in order to combat federal Medicaid cuts.
Pennsylvania lawmakers, advocates to introduce universal health care legislation
Pa. lawmakers, advocates to introduce universal health care legislation
Michael Duff set to be given the Bradford job
Bradford City are expected to name Michael Duff as the new manager according to reports.The Bantams have been looking for a new boss after Graham Alexander left the club to join Championship side Pre...
Syracuse Football: How Do Oddsmakers Feel About Matchup with Virginia?
The Orange are back in action this weekend against the Cavaliers following a 42-41 win over UConn.
Building something with your hands — and a career
MakerSpace NYC is one of at least 2,000 community workshops across the country.
5 takeaways from Iowa lawmakers passing historic $1.4B tax breaks
Five key takeaways from the Iowa Legislature passing historic tax incentives for a $15 billion proposed steel mill.
Renée Slegers has full backing from Arsenal despite slow start
Arsenal are not looking to dismiss manager Renée Slegers despite a slow start to the 2026/27 season.The Gunners have won just one of their opening five matches in the WSL which sees them ninth in the...
Lawrence Tech launches program to ease automakers’ reliance on rare earth materials
Lawrence Tech's Centrepolis Accelerator and USCAR are partnering to find critical material innovations to make the U.S. auto industry more competitive.
Korean Directors Rally Behind 'The Assassin(s)' in Political Firestorm
Korea's Directors Guild defends the makers of Hur Jin-ho's 'The Assassin(s),' as a history row turns personal.
Buccaneers vs. Cowboys odds: Opening lines for Week 5 matchup
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers hit the road on a short week as they travel to Dallas to take on the Cowboys Thursday night. Tampa Bay remains winless on the season while Dallas is coming off a big road victory. So what are the oddsmakers thinking of the Week 5 matchup between the Bucs and Cowboys? […]
Newsmakers: Southern NH Health names More VP of philanthropy
Southern New Hampshire Health named Cristine More vice president of philanthropy, among new appointments and leadership changes across New Hampshire organizatio...
Newsmakers: Southern NH Health names More VP of philanthropy
Southern New Hampshire Health named Cristine More vice president of philanthropy, among new appointments and leadership changes across New Hampshire organizatio...
Greece hold Klopp’s Germany to goalless draw
Germany were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Greece in Thessaloniki, leaving Jurgen Klopp with just one win from his opening four matches as national team coach.Greece made the brighter start, with ...
Portugal reach quarters with comeback win over Norway
Portugal maintained their perfect start to the Nations League with a 2-1 comeback victory over Norway at the Estádio do Dragão.Jorge Jesus’ side fell behind despite controlling much of the early p...
Will Washington’s ‘millionaire tax’ drive people away? Business owners and lawmakers disagree
Supporters say the tax is needed to help fund education, tax credits for businesses and families, and other public programs. Opponents argue it could drive entrepreneurs, investors, and employers out of Washington.
Bosnia votes as pro-Russian politician looms large and ethnic tensions simmer
Around 3.4 million voters are choosing the three members of the country's multi-ethnic presidency, lawmakers for the national Parliament and heads of institutions for the country's two entities.
Penn State Opens as Underdog Against USC
Penn State has opened as an underdog for the first time in the 2026 season. Following back-to-back loses to begin Big Ten play, the Nittany Lions will be a 1.5-point home underdog when they face USC on Saturday. Despite the game being the annual White Out, the oddsmakers are still not confident in Penn State’s […]
NC lawmakers call for special session of General Assembly to tackle high gas prices
Republican leaders in NC House and Senate announced Saturday that they plan to convene a special session to focus on gas prices.
How Americans’ Financial Health Is Faring In The “K-Shaped” Economy
Hey all, Jason here. Money20/20 is still two weeks away, but I’ve already started packing (not procrastinating for once!). My calendar is already filling up with various sessions I want to catch, meetings, and of course happy hours, dinners, and other side events. If you’ll be in Vegas and want to catch up, let me know by replying to this email, and we can try to find a time amidst the chaos of the Venetian. A big if not totally unexpected piece of news dropped on Friday: the Independent Community Bankers of America, a trade group that represents smaller U.S. banks, filed a lawsuit against the OCC and Comptroller Jonathan Gould, arguing that the regulator’s move to grant trust bank charters to firms seeking to use them to conduct substantial non-fiduciary activities exceeds the authorities granted to the OCC by Congress. I haven’t had time to fully digest the legal filing or speak to folks in my network about it, but you can expect to see coverage and analysis on it in next week’s newsletter. Subscribe or Support by Upgrading The NerdCon agenda just dropped. It’s stacked. Partner content: Nubank built an AI-first bank. Chime built its own banking core. Figure and Valon are rebuilding the mortgage stack. At NerdCon, you’ll hear from the people behind those bets: what they chose, what they learned, and what they’re still figuring out. The agenda is live, with leaders from Nubank, Chime, OpenAI, Remitly, Mercury, Figure, Valon and more. Follow the mainstage conversations, bring the problem your team is wrestling with to a hands-on workshop, or pull up a chair at a roundtable. Pick your quests. Meet us in San Diego, November 18–20. Fintech Business Weekly readers save 20% with code FBW20. Explore the Agenda Things To Know & Other Good Reads Federal Reserve Board finalizes changes to enhance the transparency and public accountability of its stress test and reduce volatility in its stress test-related capital requirements (Federal Reserve Board of Governors) FDIC Announces Conclusion of Independent Monitorship (FDIC) Modernizing Financial Regulation: Initial Observations from eSLR (Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman) The Data Version of Godzilla versus Kong: FRED Takes on AI (Fed Governor Christopher Waller) Financing the AI buildout (Brookings) Q3’26: Rules for Banks but Not for Crypto (Fintech Takes Banking) The Inevitability of Local Stablecoins (Lombard Notes) Delusions of AI Governance: The Human-in-the-Loop Comfort Blanket (Fintech Snark Tank) Stripe agrees to acquire Parafin to expand revenue opportunities for platforms and help small businesses grow (Stripe) Listen: Fighting Fraud in the Age of AI, with SEON’s Tamas Kadar (Fintech Business Weekly) How Americans’ Financial Health Is Faring In The “K-Shaped” Economy If there is one overarching theme across the economy and politics in the U.S. at the moment, it’s “affordability.” The term is vague enough to encompass a panoply of factors shaping Americans’ day-to-day lives: rising costs for the hallmarks of being “middle class,” including healthcare, housing, childcare, and education, inflation and rising interest rates, and a job market with the specter of AI hovering over it. At the same time, policy shifts under the Trump administration have resulted in reduced subsidies to those who get health insurance under the Affordable Care Act and new restrictions on qualifying for Medicaid and SNAP, the impacts of which have yet to be fully felt. These factors are contributing to declining consumer confidence and general dissatisfaction with the economy, despite continuing GDP growth and stock market records. This divergence is encapsulated in the idea of the “K-shaped” economy, in which a small proportion of Americans have seen their wealth balloon, while the majority of American households struggle to preserve the lifestyle they have. Perhaps the greatest determinant of which branch of the “K” a household is on is whether their wealth and income are primarily derived from employment vs. from assets. Nearly two decades of low interest rates and, more recently, elevated rates of inflation have benefited asset owners, while those whose income is primarily or solely derived from labor have largely seen real purchasing power stagnate or decline. This is reflected in recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data showing that labor share of U.S. GDP — the fraction of economic output that accrues to workers as compensation in exchange for their labor — dropped to just 52.8% in Q2 2026, the lowest since the BLS began keeping records. In 1947, approximately 2/3rds of economic output accrued to workers; even as recently as 2001, labor’s share of GDP was 64.1%. Against this backdrop, we’ve seen the rise of more credit and credit-like products: cash advance apps, “no-fee” overdraft, earned wage access, and buy now pay later, which are often used as small-dollar short-term borrowing mechanisms to meet immediate consumption needs or pay other bills (eg utilities, cell phone, other debt payments). With the markers of a middle class existence and, increasingly, basic financial stability seemingly out of reach for many, it should be no surprise there’s been an increase in “financial nihilism,” something industry peers like Alex Johnson and Frank Rotman have discussed and analyzed the roots of. The explosion of gambling and gambling-adjacent products and services — often marketed under the guise of being an “investment” — is inextricably intertwined with the rise of financial nihilism. Crypto, sports betting, and, more recently, prediction markets offer an escape or even hope of sorts, like a contemporary, digital version of a scratch-off lottery ticket, while leaving the overwhelming number of people who use such products worse off. Share of Households That Are Financially “Vulnerable” Ticks Up The Financial Health Network’s 2026 Financial Health Pulse® report adds context on how American households are faring. (I linked to this report in last week’s newsletter, but wanted to take time to further unpack the data in the report this week.) The Financial Health Network publishes the report annually, providing insight into how Americans’ financial circumstances are changing over time. The 2026 report is derived from a survey fielded in April and May 2026. The report leverages survey responses to assess indicators of financial health across spending, saving, borrowing, and planning/protecting and to determine a zero to 100 “FinHealth” score. Those with scores between 0 and 39 are considered “Financially Vulnerable,” consumers with scores ranging between 40 and 79 are defined as “Financially Coping,” and those with scores of 80 to 100 are “Financially Healthy.” The report found that moderate improvements in 2025 were reversed, with the share of respondents considered financially “vulnerable” rebounding to 17%. The longitudinal data reflect the impact of pandemic-era programs, like expanded unemployment, cash stimulus payments, and pauses of federal student loan payments. The positive impacts of those programs, as reflected in the Financial Health Pulse reports, had largely disappeared by 2023. While pandemic-era inflation — to be fair, in part caused by the various support and stimulus measures — had come down from as high as 9% in 2022, it has rebounded since the start of Trump’s second term, with tariffs and energy market disruptions owing to the war in Iran pushing prices back up. Specific indicators in the survey that deteriorated from 2025 to 2026 include the share of respondents spending less than their income over the past 12 months, the share paying all bills on time over the past 12 months, the share that have a manageable amount or no debt, the share that are “moderately” or “very” confident their insurance is adequate to cover them in an emergency, and the share that “somewhat” or “strongly” agree that their household plans ahead financially. Unsurprisingly, lower- and moderate-income households are more likely to struggle to pay their bills on time and have any funds leftover to save. The share of low-income households whose income exceeded their spending dropped from 35% in 2025 to 31% in 2026, while the share of upper-income households whose income exceeded expenses remained unchanged at 63%. Households with student loans or revolving credit card debt reported having “a bit more” or “far more” debt than was manageable at rates far higher than those not carrying these types of debts. The share of those with student loan debt indicating their debt load was too high to manage increased from 50% in 2025 to 55% in 2026, while the share of those with revolving credit card debt saying the same ticked up from 51% in 2025 to 54% in 2026. Households that had student loans were markedly more likely to be financially “coping” or “vulnerable” vs. those without student loans. In 2026, 27% of households with student loans were considered financially vulnerable, a jump of 6% points vs. 2025. Households without student loans saw just a 1% point increase (not statistically significant) in those considered financially vulnerable. Households’ perception of the affordability of categories of goods and services paints a stark picture, with less than one-fourth considering higher education affordable, about a third deeming childcare affordable, and less than half viewing healthcare as affordable. Fintech Business Weekly is made possible by the generous support of paying subscribers — bringing you independent analysis of banking, fintech, and crypto without fear or favor. You can support my work by becoming a paying subscriber if you aren’t already. Paying subscribers enjoy: access to the entire archive of nearly six years of newsletters extended versions of the weekly newsletter, with additional content and analysis and (for founding member tier) quarterly personal 1:1 fintech Q&A / strategy calls with me, tapping into my unparalleled knowledge of the intersection of banking and fintech and experience working in the sector, including helping to launch Goldman Sachs’ retail bank Marcus Support Fintech Business Weekly You can also support Fintech Business Weekly by sponsoring a newsletter or podcast, putting you in front of 93,000+ of the most influential decision makers in banking, fintech, and crypto. Learn more about sponsor opportunities or request a media kit by dropping me an email. Democratic Senate Report Highlights How Iran Uses Tether to Evade U.S. Sanctions Iran uses stablecoins, specifically Tether, to evade sanctions, fund regional proxies, and to purchase military drones, a report released last week by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations says. The report was authored by committee ranking member Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and the minority staff. Crypto and stablecoin proponents will often push back on criticism that criminals make use of these assets by arguing that, on an absolute dollar basis, far more illicit funds flow through traditional banking systems and payment rails than via crypto and stablecoins. And while that is likely true, it elides the reality presented in news story after news story: whether state actors — Russia, Iran, North Korea — or criminal groups, those looking to engage in illicit transactions increasingly favor stablecoins and, specifically, Tether (USDT). The report from the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations released last week adds context to how Iran uses Tether has a lynchpin in its shadow banking system. The report analyzed 846 wallets that have been sanctioned or targeted for seizure, finding that 84% of them transacted exclusively or primarily in Tether. The ability to create near limitless, anonymous wallets and to move funds effectively instantaneously and irreversibly have made crypto a favored financial mechanism for bad actors. Stablecoins solved key drawbacks of bitcoin, namely, the original cryptocurrency’s highly volatile value in dollars. And while Tether (the company) has the technical ability to “freeze” or destroy funds, the company is often limited and reactive in its approach to doing so, the Senate report argues. Tether, which is nominally based in crypto-friendly El Salvador, “has stated that its compliance with OFAC sanctions is ‘voluntary’ and that it follows ‘OFAC guidelines,’” the Senate report says. Owing to these favorable attributes, Tether “became a primary cryptocurrency for Iran, Hamas, Hizballah, and the Houthis beginning in 2023 and has expanded in scale since,” according to the report. Tether’s role in Iran’s shadow banking system, the report says, is enhanced by crypto exchanges like Bybit, Kyrrex, OKX, Gate, and Binance, and through “over the counter” exchanges and hawala networks. The consequences of these financial flows aren’t hypothetical. The Senate report links Tether as a funds transfer mechanism to Iranian proxies in the region, including Hizballah, the Houthis, and Hamas. Tether has also been used to make payments to secure components necessary to manufacture drones, the report says. The report concludes by arguing that “[s]tablecoin issuers with a significant nexus to the United States, particularly those that offer dollar-denominated stablecoins, should be subject to American sanctions law rather than being allowed to hide behind foreign jurisdictions.” Stablecoin issuers like Tether must be held accountable for repeated failures to prevent illicit finance and sanctions violations by law enforcement, the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and OFAC, the report argues. [Paying Subscriber Exclusive] OUSD Goes Live, Make Your Own Neobank, U.S. Sanctions Russia’s A7 Network As “Transnational Criminal Organization” OpenUSD, the stablecoin issued by the Open Standard consortium that includes Stripe, Visa, Mastercard, core providers, crypto firms, and numerous banks, went live last week. Social commerce platform Whop raised eyebrows in fintech by offering creators on its platform the ability to launch their own neobanks, which the company describes as “great businesses that are easy to run,” in just 15 minutes. And OFAC and FinCEN target Russia’s “shadow banking” A7 Network — more on these stories after the paywall.
Colorado’s mobster democracy
The issues on your ballot aren’t just questions about trains, taxes and spending. They are exhibits in a larger case: dishonesty, intimidation and political bullying have become standard operating procedure at the Colorado Capitol. The message from lawmakers is increasingly simple: Vote however you like — we’ll make sure it turns out the way we […]
Pols & Politics: White House launches website on the ‘real cost of Socialism’
The White House has launched a new webpage warning U.S. families of the “real cost of Socialism,” while state lawmakers prepare to take up proposed federal changes to the 2030 census this month.
NC GOP leaders to call special session on fuel prices
The Senate and House Republican leaders have not set a date for lawmakers to return to Raleigh.
School IB business management class: European carmakers warn EU-UK tariffs could be ‘catastrophic’
Growth and evolution
Doctors, insurers sue Newsom over health insurance premium increases
In June, lawmakers passed a healthcare tax that could increase premiums in order to combat federal Medicaid cuts. A new lawsuit says that tax violates Proposition 35, passed by voters in 2024.
5 Illinois Players to Watch vs. Purdue Boilermakers
Here are five Illinois players to watch for Saturday's 4:15 p.m. home game against the Purdue Boilermakers.
‘No brainer’: Growing trend of Chinese tourists booking business-class flights
Chinese holidaymakers are increasingly upgrading to ‘premium travel’ to make their well-earned leisure time more pleasurable, say insiders.
Global tech policymakers agree to embrace AI in science
A joint statement issued by the United States and 15 other countries touts the technology’s potential for accelerating scientific progress.
New interactive tool tracks private equity investments in health care across U.S.
A new interactive tool launched on Tuesday, Sept. 8, offers policymakers, researchers, journalists and the public a state-by-state look at private equity investments in U.S. health care.
Powerhouse Plays
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The KELOLAND SportsZone returned on Friday night, which also marks the return of Powerhouse Plays. Powerhouse Plays features the top plays and playmakers from each KELOLAND SportsZone. View this week’s Powerhouse Plays in the video player above. Games featured on Power Plays: